Game apparatus.



PATENTBD APR. 14, 1908. E. B. MASON. G APPARATUS. .LEPLI N FILED BUY.. 5,1907.

No. 884,674.1I .l

UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE.

ELIZABETH B. MASON, 'OF ELMSFORD, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH B. MASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmsford, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification,

The present invention relates to means to enable one to pass the time pleasantly and at the same time derive instruction.

The device consists of a board subdivided into spaces of contrasting color and provided with designated spots or spaces, a teetotum adapted to be spun upon the board to indicate the play, and a series of game pieces to cover the designated spots of the board as the game progresses.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof,

still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a game-board embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a teetotum. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of four sets of game pieces. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the sets or piles of game pieces spread out.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicatedin all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The game-board l is of square form and has a central space circumscribed by means of a rim 2. A center portion of the-space inclosed by the rim 2 is raised, as indicated at 3A, and provides a table upon which the teetotum 4 is to be spun or twirled in the playing of the game. The raised portion or table 3 and the intervening portion between said table and the rim 2 are subdivided by radial lines and circles to form arc and sector shaped spaces which are differently colored according to any desiOn so as to provide a pleasing effect, and define spaces of contrasting color for a purpose presently to be described. Red, white, blue and yellow are the preferred colors. The rim 2 limits the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 5, 1907.

Patented April 14:, 1908.

Serial No. 400,868.

movements of the teetotum when thrown outward in the act of or during the spinning operation, thereby preventing misplacement of the teetotum or its interference with the game pieces placed upon the portion of the board exterior to the rim 2 in the progress of playing the game. A circular space defined by the r'im 2, occupies the center of a square and extends to and intersects the boundary lines of said square forming corner spaces which are likewise of contrasting color, such as red, white, blue and yellow, and which corner spaces have designated spots indicated in the present instance by the character l e. Parallel stripes are located exterior to the said centrally disposed square occupied by the central space and rim 2 and are arranged parallel with the respective edges of the board. These stripes are of contrasting color and are provided with spaces or spots indicated by suitable characters, such as 5c, The four corner spaces arranged in the angles formed by adjacent ends of the stripes, are divided into four spaces each, and each of said four spaces is provided with an indicated spot bearing matter, such as 50c, $1., $10. or $20. The stripes, corner spaces and spots are of contrasting color to make the same stand out in bold relief, the predominating colors being red white, blue and yellow. The teetotum 4 may be a top or spinning device to be-twirled between the thumb and finger of the hand, such as commonly employed in game apparatus.

The game pieces 5 consist preferably of disks varying in size according to differences of diameters of the spots indicated upon the game-board, so as to cover the'respective and proper spots when placed thereon. The game pieces represent toy money corresp onding to coin of denominate values indicated by the several spots. vFour sets of game pieces are provided, one set for each of four players, said game pieces representing a monetary value from 1 to $20., as indicated by and corresponding with a set or series of spots of the game-board. rlhe game ieces of each set are Stacked in a pile and in p aying the game one pile is assigned to each player in the event of four persons being engaged in the game. p

Each player may place his set of gamepieces in any convenient position upon the board, so as not to interfere with the play, or upon the table on which the hoard may be placed, the position being immaterial so long as the game-pieces are conveniently at hand and in the order of their play. When entering the game-pieces they may be placed upon the red arc spaces in any position and each game-piece is moved from one arc space to the other in the order of red, white, blue and yellow, the player first reaching the yellow space making the count. The players then cover the spots of the board exterior to the rim 2 with the game-pieces corresponding in value with the game pieces entered, and begin another inning. An inning is determined when a game-piece reaches the yellow space, all game-pieces of like value to the ones entered being then put out of play, the party first reaching the yellow space making the count.

It is to be understood that two, three or four players may engage in the game, each one taking a turn and spinning the teetotum. The colors determine the entrance of Athe game pieces and their movement u on the board, the order being red, white, b ue and yellow. In spinning the teetotum, it must be placed upon the center of the circular space defined by the rim 2, which is the center of the raised portion or table 3. As the teetotum is s un or twirled, it most generally flies outwarc from the center of the table 3 and finally comes to rest with the point of the stem resting upon a space, which if. ofthe color in play, entitles the player either to enter a game piece 5 or to move a game piece that has been entered. At the beginning, the controlling color is red and should the teetotum, after being spun by the first player, come to rest .upon a space colored red, the player enters a game piece as one cent upon the red circle in the space formed between the outer edge of the table 3 and the rim 2. Should the teetotum spun by the second player come to rest upon a space of a colorl differing from red, he loses his turn. After each player has had a turn, the color changes from red to white for the next play and when the teetotum comes to rest upon a white space in the second play, the player either enters a'game piece or moves the game piece previously entered to the white circle in the s ace between the table 3 and the rim 2. In tlie third play the controlling color again changes to blue and in the fourth to yellow. The color changes for each inning or play in the order of red, white, blue and yellow and the game pieces entered advance on the cir cles of' the space between the edge of table 3 and rim 2 in the order of red, white, blue and yellow. The player first to reach the yellow circle makes five points and the game pieces lc are placed upon the 1c spots. The next game pieces to be entered are the 5c pieces, the play being the same as hereinbefore described, each player in turn spinning the teetotum and entering or moving the game piece according to the controlling color designated by the teetotum when Icoming to rest after being spun or twirled. The player reaching the yellow circle first with the 5 game piece wins ten points and the 5c game pieces are placed upon the 5c spots. Each subsequent game piece counts for the player reaching the yellow circle first in an increasing ratio of five, the game pieces of like denominate value or designating character being spotted as they are successively put out of play. After all of the spots of the gameboard have been covered by the game ieces, the player having the highest num er of points is declared the winner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a gameboard, a rim projected upward from the board and separating the central portion thereof from the remaining portion, said board having its central portion raised to form a table and having the table and the portion between the table and the said rim subdivided by circles and radial lines into arc and sector shaped spaces of contrasting color, said board having approximately triangular spaces exterior of and adjacent to the said rim forming the corners of a square circumscribing said rim and having parallel stripes exterior to said square and parallel with the sides of the board, and corner spaces in the angles formed between adjacent ends of the stripes, the several stripes and spaces being of contrasting color and provided with a plurality of series of spots provided with distinguishing designating matter.

2. The herein described game apparatus, comprising a square board, a circular rim projected upward from the board and inclosing a space, said board having the center portion o' said space raised to provide a table, and having the space within the said rim subdivided by circles and radial lines into arc and sector shaped spaces of contrasting color, said board having spaces of approxi mately triangular form exterior to the said rim and o posite the four corners of the board, the atter having parallel stripes ex-A terior to the aforesaid triangular spaces and rim and parallel with the four edges of the board, and having the spaces at the four corners of the board and between the ends of adjacent stripes subdivided into four squares., the several squares, triangular spaces and stripes being of contrasting color and provided with spots differently designated and forming four series.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIZABETH B. MASON.

I/Vitnesses:

M. A. MASON, WM. D. HUMPHREYS. 

